Centrifuge having a combined cover and filling funnel



A June 2l, 1966 R. sTElMEL 3,257,073

CENTRIFUGE HAVING A COMBINED COVER AND FILLING FUNNEL June 21, 1966 R.sTElMEl. 3,257,073

CENTRIFUGE HAVING A COMBINED COVER AND FILLING FUNNEL Filed March 4,1965 2 sheets-sheet 2 3,257,073 CENTRIFUGE HAVING A COMBINED COVER ANDFILLING FUNNEL Richard Steimel, Frankfurter Strasse 134, Hennef (Sieg),Germany' Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,670 Claims priority,application Germany, Mar. 7, 1962, St 18,938 8 Claims. (Cl. 233-27) Theinvention relates toa cover arrangement for a centrifuge having anupwardly open drum, in particular for an industrial centrifuge in whichto empty the drum, the drum wall is liftable in relation to the drumbottom so that the centrifuged material can slide ot the drum bottom andbe carried away downwardly.

The known cover arrangements for centrifuges having upwardly open drumsconsist of a flap cover hinged toA the outer casing of the centrifuge,which can be locked to the .outer casing when closed. These coverarrangements have the disadvantages that they need considerable room foropening the'centrifuge and that the centrifuge cannot be filled from theside to which the flap is hinged. l

A purpose of the invention is to provide a cover'arrangement forcentrifuges in which the disadvantages of the known cover arrangementare mitigated yand which also permit reliable closing of the drumchamber as well as easy, rapid and clean filling with material to becentrifuged.

'United States Patent O mce a centrifuge according to the invention withreference to According to the invention a plurality of flaps above thedrum are pivoted on horizontal axes lying substantially in the sameplane around the axis of rotation of the drum, to the outer casing ofthe centrifuge, the flaps being of such shape that in horizontalposition their side margins overlap and they cover the drum chamberwhile.

when in a downwardly inclined position, preferably at an angle to thehorizontal of from 40 to 60, they form a filling funnel for the drum,each ap except the lowermost being engaged from below by a neighbouringflap and the lowermost flap being adjustable about its pivotal axis bya-n adjustable device.

In a centrifuge according to the invention the drum chamber is closed,by the lowermost flap being swung up into a horizontal position by theadjusting device, the other aps thereby being lifted into the horizontalposition. In their lower positions in which the flaps preferably abutlimiting stops, they form a large filling funnel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the outer. casing of thecentrifugel has a square outline at least at its upper edge and theflaps are of trapeziurn shape, the

longest edges of which are equal to the length of the sides of thesquare opening to which they are respectively hinged.

With this construction the whole cross section of the 'outer casing isutilised as a charging opening for the material to be centrifuged. Thestraight side Walls of the outer casing of the centrifuge and the largecharging opening make it possible to supply the centrifuge in aparticularly simple manner by means of band, vibrating or similarconveyors. The covering flaps are advantageously brought into the closedposition by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which actuates thelowermost flap. AS long as pressure fluid is supplied to the cylinderthe flaps 'are held in the horizontal, closed position. When thecentrifuge drum is'stationary the cylinder control is operated torelease the pressure fluid and the cover flaps sink into thefunnel-forming position, for example, under the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of the centrifuge with the coverflaps in the funnel-forming position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the centrifuge withthe flaps almost closed.

The centrifuge drum consisting of a conical drum bottom 9 and a dru-mwall 12 which can be lifted above the bottom, is carried and drivenbythe hollow shaft 2 of an electric motor 3. The motor 3 is elasticallymounted by the aid of a segment piece 4, a flange 5 and a stern 6secured therein which is set in known manner in rubber rings which areheld in thel pedestal 7 of the centrifuge and held compressed by aclamping ilange 8. The drum wall 12 is connected by radial spokes 13with a central hub 14 surrounding a hydraulic cylinder 40 and serving toguide the drum wall 12 axially. Inside the cylinder 40 is a piston 41which when the cylinder is supplied with pressure fluid, presses througha piston rod 42 against an end closure 43 of the hub 14 so lifting thedrum wall 12 and opening the drum. The pressure fluid reaches thecylinder 40 through the hollow shaft 2.

Liquid separated by the action of the centrifuge is led over a throwerring 18 on the drum wall, and a receiving surface 20 secured to theouter casing 21 of the centrifuge, to a discharge tube 22. Inclinedguide walls 24 are arranged below the drum bottom 9 which guide thevcentrifuged material to the discharge openings 25.

The cross section of the outer casing 21 is square at least in its upperregion. To the upper edges of the casing 21 four trapezium shaped flaps80,v 81, 82, 83 of steel sheet are pivoted on horizontal axes 84, 85,86, 87. Each flap is attached at its longest side corresponding to thelength of the side walls of the casing 2-1 by two hinges 88 to thecasing 21. As FIG. 1 shows the flaps inclined downwardly to thehorizontal at about 50 form a filling funnel of wide cross section. Inthis open position the flaps abut a-gainstyielding stops in the form ofrubber buffers 89 attached to the interior of the casing 21. The twoside margins of the flaps 82 are respectively engaged from below by oneside margin each of the flaps 81 and 83, While the other side margins ofthe flaps 81 and 83 are engaged from below by the side margins of thelowermost ilap 80.

After charging of the drum 9, 12 the lowermost Hap is swung up into thehorizontal position through a lever arm 90 secured to the flap andprojecting over and out of the casing 21 by the aid of a hydrauliccylinder 91 engaging the lever arm 90. During this movement the flap 80carries with it the flaps 81 and 83 resting on it and these in turncarry with them the flap 82 so that the drum space 92 is closed. As longas the piston in the cylinder 91 is under pressure the aps 80 to 83 areheld in the closed position. is at rest the cylinder 91 is controlledpreferably automatically to release the pressure fluid and the flapssink into funnel-forming position.

The flaps 80 to 83 can be so arranged that in the funnelforming positionand with the drum itself closed their lower edges are at only a shortdistance above the upper edge the drum wall 12 because when the drum isopened that is the drum wall 12 is raised, the flaps 80 to 82 can becarried upwardly with it.

The two hinge axes and 87 parallel with one another are arranged at thesame level, while the hinge axis 86 of the liap 82 is arranged above bythe thickness of this flap and the hinge axis 84 of the lowermost ap 80is arranged below by the thickness of the ap. The upper edges -of thefour side walls of the casing 21 differ in height by the same amounts.

As FIG. 2 shows the driving motor 3 can be controlled through a switch93 mounted on the outside of the Patented June 21,1966

When the centrifuge drum casing 21 this switch being actuated by atongue 94 fixed to the flap 80 and projecting out of and over thecasing, when the tiap Si) and the other flaps are in the closedposition.

What I claim is:

1. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable drum open at the top and havingya bottom wall and a peripheral wall, said drum being mounted on avertical drive shaft for rotation therewith, la drive motor coupled tosaid shaft, means for vertically separating said bottom wall and saidperipheral wall to permit discharge of the drum contents between thelower edge of said peripheral wall and said bottom wall, a housingsurrounding said drum and having a sidewall extending above saidperipheral wall, and a combined cover and lling funnel for said drum,said cover comprising a plurality of radially disposed iiaps, each flapbeing hingedly mounted along an outer edge on the upper edge of saidsidewall and projecting radially inwardly of said sidewall, said flapswhen in horizontal position with adjacent side edges overlappingproviding a substantially closed cover for said drum, said aps beingmovable from said horizontal position downwardly to an inclined positionof the order of forty to sixty degrees to form a filling funnel for saiddrum, the side edges of one iiap underlying the side edges of adjacentflaps, and means connected to said one flap for moving the same betweenhorizontal and inclined position, said adjacent aps by reason of theoverlapping engagement Y position.

3. A centrifuge `as dened in claim 1 in which at least the upper portionof Said housing is of square crosssection and in which said covercomprises four flaps, each flap being of trapezium shape with the longeredge being hingedly mounted on the adjacent upper edge of said housingwith the length of said longer edge being equal to the length of saidlast named adjacent upper edge.

4. A centrifuge as deiined in claim 3 in which the two iaps adjacent oneflap are hingedly mounted above said one iiap a distance equal to thethickness of said one ilap, the fourth flap `being hingedly mountedabove said two flaps a distance equal to the thickness of said twoflaps. v

5. A, centrifuge as defined in claim 1 in which said means for movingsaid one iiap includes a lever arm secured to said one iap andprojecting outwardly over the adjacent upper edge of said housing, andpower actuated means conn-ected to said lever arm f-or moving said oneiiap.

6. A centrifuge as dened in claim 5 in which said power actuated meanscomprises a fluid pressure operated cylinder.

7. A centrifuge as defined in claim l in which a tongue is mounted onsaid one iiap, said tongue projecting outwardly over the adjacent upperedge of said housing, and a `control switch mounted yon said housing inthe path of movement of said tongue, said switch being connected to saidmotor, whereby when said one ap is in horizontal position said switchwill be actuated to energize said motor.

8. A centrifuge comprising a rotatable drum open at the top and having abottom wall fixed to a vertical drive shaft and Ia vertically movableperipheral wall, a drive motor coupled to said shaft, said peripheralwall engaging said bottom wall when in operating position and movableupwardly to permit discharge of the drum contents between the lower edgeof said peripheral wall and said Ibottom wall, a housing surroundingsaid drum and having a sidewall extending above said peripheral wallwhen in raised position, and a combined cover and filling funnel forsaid drum, said cover comprising a plurality of radially disposed flaps,each flap being hingedly mounted along an outer edge on the upper edgeof said sidewall and projecting radially inwardly of said sidewall, saidflaps when in horizontal position with adjacent side edges overlappingproviding a substantially closed cover for said drum, said flaps beingmovable from said horizontal position downwardly to an inclined position`of the order of forty to sixty degrees to form a filling funnel forsaid drum, the side edges of one liiap underlying the side edges ofadjacent flaps, and means connected to said one flap for moving the samebetween horizontal and inclined position, said adjacent iiaps by -reasonof the overlapping engagement with said one ilap moving therewith, saidiiaps also being lm-ovable from said inclined position upon movement ofsaid peripheral wall into engagement with said flaps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 674,503 5/1901Haegg 222503 2,004,064 6/1935 Jordan et al 210-146 2,136,127 11/1938Fawcett 233-20 X 2,898,037 8/1959 Dega 23328 X 2,926,489 3/1960 Halfordet al. 251-212 X 3,056,505 10/1962 Andersson 251-212 X FOREIGN PATENTS1,254,943 1/1961 France.

MARTN P. SCHWADRON, Acling Primary Examinez'. M. CARY NELSON, Examiner.

H. KLINKSIEK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CENTRIFUGE COMPRISING A ROTATABLE DRUM OPEN AT THE TOP AND HAVING ABOTTOM WALL AND A PERIPHERAL WALL, SAID DRUM BEING MOUNTED ON A VERTICALDRIVE SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A DRIVE MOTOR COUPLED TO SAID SHAFT,MEANS FOR VERTICALLY SEPARATING SAID BOTTOM WALL AND SAID PERIPHERALWALL TO PERMIT DISCHARGE OF THE DRUM CONTENTS BETWEEN THE LOWER EDGE OFSAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND SAID BOTTOM WALL, A HOUSING SURROUNDING SAIDDRUM AND HAVING A SIDEWALL EXTENDING ABOVE SAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND ACOMBINED COVER AND FILLING FUNNEL FOR SAID DRUM, SAID COVER COMPRISING APLURALITY OF RADIALLY DISPOSED FLAPS, EACH FLAP BEING HINGEDLY MOUNTEDALONG AN OUTER EDGE ON THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SIDEWALL AND PROJECTINGRADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID SIDEWALL, SAID FLAPS WHEN IN HORIZONTALPOSITION WITH ADJACENT SIDES EDGES OVERLAPPING PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIALLYCLOSED COVER FOR SAID DRUM, SAID FLAPS BEING MOVABLE FROM SAIDHORIZONTAL POSITION DOWNWARDLY TO AN INCLINED POSITION OF THE ORDER OFFORTY TO SIXTY DEGREES TO FORM A FILLING FUNNEL FOR SAID DRUM, THE SIDEEDGES OF ONE FLAP UNDERLYING THE SIDE EDGES OF ADJACENT FLAPS, AND MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID SIDE EDGES FOR MOVING THE SAME BETWEEN HORIZONTAL ANDINCLINED POSITION, SAID ADJACENT FLAPS BY REASON OF THE OVERLYINGENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE FLAP MOVING THEREWITH.